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Author
Topic: Christine has passed, she is finally at peace. (Read 45327 times)

Me and Chris (ManchesterUK) met for lunch in Manchester today. We decided to pay a visit to the HIV/AIDS memorial on Canal Street. Unfortunately it wasn't much to look at but we wanted to make a small gesture in memory of Christine. So we placed 3 sunflowers - one from me, one from Chris and one from Niki (englishgirl) - at the foot of the memorial. We chose sunflowers because we thought they were the most representative of Christine who brought much sunshine into many people's lives. I've added a few photos below.

Rest in peace, sweet lady.

With much love

Debra, Chris and Niki xxx

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/\___/\ /\__/\(=' . '=) (=' . '=)(,,,_ ,,,)/ (,,,_ ,,,)/ Cats rule!

The difference between cats and dogs is that dogs come when called, whereas cats take a message and get back to you.

I have struggled over the years to figure out why, if there is a higher power, they would put someone through so much pain and suffering. Christine never deserved any of this. But after reading her posts and seeing how many people she has helped, I have to believe that this was her calling and she needed to carry this burden so she could understand and reach out to others. I don't know, but that is what I'm going with to help me make sense of this.

Our journey through the flesh contains as many terrors as pleasures. Christine's pain has stopped, and for that we who loved her are most grateful even as the loss of her in our lives tears through us.

Chris-You are handling this with a strength and dignity few others could summon at such a time. It is a testament to the love you shared.

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Blessed with brains, talent and gorgeous tits.

The revolutionary smart set reads The Spin Cycle at least once every day.

NB. Any advice about HIV is given in addition to your own medical advice and not intended to replace it. You should never make clinical decisions based on what anyone says on the internet but rather check with your ID doctor first. Discussions from the internet are just that - Discussions. They may give you food for thought, but they should not direct you to do anything but fuel discussion.

today I walk in San Jose's Silicon Valley AIDS Walk to honor Christine. As much as I want to cry because of her passing I decided not to do this in her memory but rather to honor her life. She inspired all of us ! She was brave, caring, full of love and a teacher. I will pass on the lessons she taught me and others will learn who this amazing lady was.

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POSITIVE PEDALERS... We are a group of people living with HIV/AIDS, eliminating stigma through our positive public example.

My deepest simpathy. Though I did not know her. I can tell she was greatly loved by many. May her light always shine in the hearts of those who loved and her and those she touched with her courage and kindness.

To Chris and the puppies,family...I am very saddened when I found out today...She was a great,respected person here at the forums and in life...may she rest in peace..I send a prayer to you and all the family...May you find peace in this time...

I want all of you to know how much I appreciate your kind words and support towards her. I really believe these forums helped keep her going at the times things were very difficult for her. She lived life to the fullest right to the end.

Chris - how are you doing? This must have been a very difficult day for you. I hope you are home with the puppies feeling all of the prayers of peace and healing everyone is sending. Christine was a classy lady, and her sense of dignity and good humor made a tremendous impact on a lot of people.

I am so sorry for your loss. May God wrap his arms around you and hold your spirit through this horrible time. As hard as it may be please take comfort in the fact she is no longer suffering and she fought this on her terms.

Chris, I am sorry my post is so late. I am sending my prayers to God for you during this very difficult time of loss of Christine. You sound like such a wonderful man and Christine sounded like such a great, strong and loving woman. I am new to the posts but am so touched my all of the beautiful post others have sent for Christine. She sounds like she was an angel on earth for many on this site as well as others who's life she touched. I pray we all can take some part of her strength and love and carry that forward in life to honor her memoryand carry on the good work she started in peoples hearts. May we all be a lucky to be loved and love as Christine had been. GOD bless you.

Oh no...........................Why ?I was away off the forums last weeks fighting my own demons and family problems but 2 days ago , I was intensely thinking about Christine and you Chris for a 10 minutes or so . Why ? I do not know a real reason.............There is a ball of sorrow in my soul and it won`t go away...............Sorry but I`m speechless for more..............I just hope that now she is wondering in some heavenly Disney world or Atlantis , peacefull ( as she always was ) , with a smile in her face( looking down on us).A great buddy and a woman to love. Al

Today was the first day I have been on here in month's, just needed a break, only to find out this dear lady passed away. Back in March I was ready to kill myself, locked in what was a horrible situation with no way out. But Christine reached out to me and gave me hope. She offered to do my resume for me and with Chris' help, I was able to land a good job here in Florida, pull my life back together and most importantly, have hope once again. I will never forget her - her kindness, grace and love.

Bless you my friend.

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44 year old gay man .......just broke up with the only man I've ever really loved.

I want to take the time to apologize to everyone here. You all were so helpful to Christine during her battle and myself when she lost that battle. A lot of you reached out to me offering help and support, checking in with me to make sure I was alright and I ignored all of you and I'm very sorry for that. You all deserve much better than that, which is why I'm here again to explain what I was going though and why.

Shortly after Christine past away, passing my final HIV test, and reading a lot of posts on here, I became very angry towards this disease. I felt as though this virus had taken everything from me and at the same time it was all that I knew, our lives had revolved around it for 14 years! I was determined that I was not going to give another second of my life to this monster! I felt as though coming back here, responding to emails and PM's, I was giving into the monster. So I stayed away, I ignored emails. Looking back, I realize that was a mistake and horrible. You are all wonderful, caring people and it was not fair of me to do that. I hope you all can understand and I am truly sorry.

Now to update what has happened since.

Things are mixed. I was finally at peace when Christine past away, knowing her pain and suffering was finally over. Honestly, it was very strange, because I wasn't upset or emotional. It was such a huge feeling of relief. Shortly after, I went out on a date with someone. I know it was soon, but I was at peace with Christine being gone and thought "why the hell not". Well, things have worked out wonderfully with this new woman. She will never replace Christine, nobody ever could and I will never forget nor let anything take away from the time I shared with Christine, but she has shown me that life does go on, you can find happiness and love someone again. Christine's friends and family were not very pleased with me dating someone so shortly after her passing and have essentially disowned me after her best friend said some very hateful and mean things towards myself and Christine's mother (who is very happy for me).

Chris, all I can say is I think you and Christine managed your ordeal with the utmost dignity. I can't speak for anyone else, but you sure don't owe me an apology. As for your anger at HIV, boy I can understand your feelings. If their was one person that I can say didn't deserve it, well that would be Christine.

I got to know Christine a bit through conversations on Skype (I can't delete her name from my address book) and I would bet my bottom dollar that Christine would be happy for you. In fact I know she would.

You know Chris you were a great husband to Christine and on several occasions she told me so. To me that's all I have to know.

So nice to hear from you Chris, I can't tell you how many times I have thought of Christine over the past few months.

You certainly don't owe any of us an apology. I am happy for you, about meeting someone. Life is so very short....we all know you loved Christine, so now you do what you need to do for Chris to be happy, You deserve that.

hugs,

Alan

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"Remember my sentimental friend that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - The Wizard of Oz

It was so nice to hear from you, I agree with Hal and Alan you don't owe anyone an apology.

Last year in SF we paid tribute to Christine at our memorial service and I think as a group it helped us put Christine to rest and gave us all some closure, as it did you, and you were very much in our thoughts also.

I'm glad you have moved on and have found happiness, we know Christine will always be apart of you but life goes on..I wish you all the love in the world as you move on with your life.

Good to hear from you again - you certainly don't owe me an apology either. I thought your absence was understandable under the circumstances.

I'm happy for you too. As someone else said, life is short. I can't imagine Christine wanting you to put your life on hold. I hope the new woman in your life knows what a good man she's found. Good luck to both of you.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Like someone else said... i can't also delete Christine's pm from my pm inbox... the other day i read one of them again... the last one i received... and i though i could not believe she was not with us anymore... she was a great woman and will always be. I cried a bit... good friends are always missed.

I am glad you are going on with your life, i am sure she would have wanted it that way.

I don't know if its appropriate to post here or if I should've started a new thread in "In Memoriam," so please accept my apologies if I have offended any of you.

Chris, its been a few months since you've checked in here, but I can't help but remember Christine as the anniversary of her passing approaches. I think of you often and I hope you are well.

I just wanted to let you know that I was thinking of you and remembering Christine. I still have a shortcut to her last PM to me on my desktop, and I can't think of deleting it. She PMed me on Oct. 13th 2007.